The methodology employed in 14 motivational orientation studies was reviewed. All studies used either the Education Participation Scale, the Continuing Learning Orientation Index or the Reasons for Educational Participation Scale. Issues discussed concerned factor scoring, factor analysis, rotation, scaling, reliability, and the extent to which…

This document reports a study which dealt principally with research activity under way in the education departments of the Commonwealth and the states, in the university schools of education and departments of psychology, in the schools of education of the colleges of advanced education, in the teachers colleges, and in the special units of the…

A project was designed to develop and test a library of cassette audiotapes for improving the technical skills of educational researchers. Fourteen outstanding researchers from diverse fields were identified, and a short instructional tape was prepared by each. Subjects of the tapes included instructional objectives for intellectual skills,…

This researcher discusses what he has learned about the field of program evaluation and makes three observations: (1) Testing does not define key objectives in evaluation. (2) Politics influences what clients want to know. (3) Case studies are necessary for epistemological reasons. (LMO)

Discusses the differing viewpoints of a classroom teacher and a researcher on the use of small groups as a teaching technique to illustrate the conflict between the researcher/teacher perspectives. (HTH)

This article examines research on the teaching process and suggests actions to be taken by researchers and teacher educators to make research more relevant for classroom teachers. (JMK)

This final report discusses the Reader Development Program (RDP) of the Free Library of Philadelphia's English as a Second Language (ESL) Adult Literacy Instructional Materials Project. Project goals were to identify and review ESL adult literacy instructional materials developed by ESL practitioners. These objectives were accomplished by several…

This article focuses on the problems, dilemmas, and issues which confront facilitators of teacher-based action research in schools. Three action research projects in the United Kingdom are described. An attempt is made to clarify the theoretical and philosophical assumptions which underpin the action research movement in education. (IAH)

Presents a case study which describes the experiences of two classroom mathematics teachers and the impact that their own research has had on themselves as teachers; traces their entry into the world of research beyond the classroom. (19 references) (MKR)

Examines relevant case law regarding confidentiality in educational research. Argues that the benefits to society of educational research and the notion of academic freedom provide a rationale for extension of limited legal privilege of confidentiality to educational researchers. Proposes a code defining the nature and extent of research…

Analyzes the structure of academic sociology departments. Stresses the competition for resources and symbolic capital among different groups including faculty, support staff, research staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students. Focuses on the complex role of graduate students, the constraints, and the opportunities it opens. Urges reform…

Surveys 32 officials of federal agencies and educational researchers to express historically grounded judgments on issues in educational research, including the poor reputation of the field. Criticisms that recur are that it does not pay off, that the community is in disarray, and that the field is politicized. (SLD)

Discusses the growth of the assessment movement, reviews the different measures of student performance being requested by state agencies, and describes institutional responses to state mandates. Offers guidelines for implementing an effective assessment program. (DMM)

Explores the benefits of poststructuralism for feminist empirical research in education. It seems important for researchers to examine the gendered subjectivities offered to girls and women and the ways they accept or reject them along with other educational research topics. (SLD)

In a survey of educational researchers, school and district administrators, and policymakers, 1,818 respondents rated educational practices and policies according to their influence on learning and assessability. Classroom practices, design and delivery of curriculum, and schoolwide practices were rated as more influential than federal, state, and…